When the Down Under winter starts to leave Perth, the big event that reminds us every year is the Swan Valley's Spring in the Valley festival. The Swan Valley is home to dozens of vineyards, as well as some breweries and confectionery factories, and the Spring in the Valley festival is a great chance to experience all of it.

This year Spring in the Valley will be held on the weekend of 11 and 12 October, 2008 - it's around this time every year. The various venues around the Swan Valley - which is just on the outskirts of Perth - will open longer hours, provide events like music shows and special wine tasting paired with food.

The usual way to enjoy Spring in the Valley is to get on a bus - either through a workplace or community group who hire a bus for the day or on an actual tour. There is also a shuttle bus operating from the Midland train station, which runs four times an hour and costs $15 for an all-day ticket. It's also possible to use a car but that limits the wine tasting possibilities and there's a high chance the police will be around to check up on you.

You can get full information about the program from the Swan Valley Visitor Centre.